I'm a boring blogger.

I have stuff to say all the time, it just doesn't make it here. I can hear little blog snippets in my head and then when I sit down to write them, well, they just go away or something. Or they just don't seem as good anymore - maybe because I've been thinking about them all day. Or even I just am tired of thinking about them, so I just don't.

I guess this will just be random thoughts.

Jake went to his grandma's tonight. We left before him and I left him a key with instructions to lock the door and put it under a rock. I showed him specifically which rock and everything. Well, when we came home, the door was unlocked and the key was not under the rock. After a careful search and an adament "I locked it and put it under the square rock" from Jacob, we found it in the lock. Nice.

We went to a friend's house for dinner tonight. We dropped off Josh and Cody at Monika's so she could watch them for us. I so appreciate her for that. Anyway, the dinner was great. Our friends are starting a church that will be different. It will still teach the Bible, of course, but it will give feet and hands to our faith. They will be serving the community like no church I know. That's the plan anyway. He said he was asked a question that floored him. He was asked that if the church they were in put out a sign that they were closed and offered no explanation and no warning, would anybody in the community miss it? I can see how that is flooring. I could see how the members of the church would miss it, but the community? Great question! We are definitely praying about this because it seems like what we've been looking for.

I also heard a new term tonight. Overchurched. I've heard unchurched and dechurched, but not overchurched. I think I'm overchurched. I love the Lord with all my heart, but in all honesty, church has been leaving me a bit dry for a long time. That's not saying I'm not in a good church. That's not saying there aren't good churches all over. That's just saying that it's just not home for me anymore. I need something more. I need somewhere I can grow. I need to come away changed. I want to encounter Jesus. The real Jesus. The man who is bold, strong, loving, kind, unashamed, gentle, strong - not the passive, two-dimensional Jesus that so many churches make him out to be. There just has to be more. I'm praying for God to show us if this is where we are to be or not.

Stephen R. Lawhead is an awesome author. I've loved all three of the books of his that I've gotten to read. We went to Half Price Books tonight and got another one of his. I love his style and he writes in series! I love series stories. He's edgy and surprising. He doesn't seem to copy anybody else's style which is a major pet peeve of mine. His books don't feel cranked out to meet a deadline. I'm just really happy to have found something else to read.

David's off tomorrow! Woohoo! He talked to his parents this morning and they are coming for a weekend in June. It'll be nice. We haven't seen them in forever.

Cody pulled a Jacob tonight at Half Price Books. We were standing on the Sci Fi aisle and he said "These books just look used to me". Oh. My. Goodness.

Ok. Off to read my new Stephen R. Lawhead book and go to bed!

200 Posts. Is that important?

I don't guess it really matters.

There are certain times with my kids when I think, "There is no way I could ever forget this moment." Sometimes I don't, but more often than not, I remember thinking that thought, but can't remember what I was thinking about at the time. I had one of those moments the other day that I really don't want to forget. It was just a little thing, but one that warmed my heart.

I was sitting on the love seat. Jake was lying on the big couch and Josh was curled up next to me with his head lying on my leg. I had a full view of both boys' heads. We were watching The Lion King - Joshua's first time to see it and he was into it.

Anybody who knows my boys knows that they both twirl their hair. It's sweet to me that they both do it and each has since they had hair. I used to get on to Jake about it because he looks kinda' silly standing there with his hand in his hair when you're talking to him, but I gave up trying to get him to stop. Joshua does the same thing. Exactly the same thing, which I didn't realize how exactly until the other day.

I sat there watching The Lion King, a movie that used to be Jacob's favorite with both of them lying there twirling their hair. I've never really looked at exactly how they twirl it until then. Each of them moves their fingers in the exact same way.

It may seem silly, but it was so precious to me. Man I love these kids.

Ummm...

Jacob: "How much does it cost to go to a dollar movie, Mom?"

Me: "Ummmm.....really, Jacob?"

Jacob: "Well?"

If you are reading this, you probably know my son and it's safe to say this question will probably not surprise you. It goes along with a couple of others statements that have come from him.

"Hey, Mom, there's a lime in my limeade!" or

"Oh my gosh! There's a banana in my banana split! Wait! There's another one!"

He's so very sweet, but such a blonde!

Another first today - I handed my kid a credit card! It was so surreal. I've never imagined that before. Not really.

Oh, and just to let you know....Atkins rocks! I know it's only been since Friday, but I've already lost 5 lbs! I know that the rate of loss won't stay this quick, but that's awesome! I haven't had any trouble except that my body just doesn't know what to think of not eating any sugar. I'm totally shocked at how really easy it is. And the Atkins snacks are sooo good.

DirecTV

Do you know how hard it is to cancel your service with them? It's awful! I will say it's not quite as hard as cancelling AOL, but it was up there.

Me: "Hi, we don't use our service and would like to cancel it."

Stephen: "Oh, we'd hate to lose you as a customer, is something wrong."

Me: "No, we just don't use the service and would like to cancel it. I believe my contract is up."

Stephen: "Yes, your contract is up this month. Wouldn't you rather just deactivate the account and have the option to re-activate it after six months? You wouldn't have any charges accrued during that time."

Me: "No, we just don't use the service and would like to cancel it."

Stephen: "Well, is there a different package you would like?"

Me: "No, we just don't use the service and would like to cancel it."

Stephen: "How about if we give you a credit of $5 each month to lower your bill?"

Me: "No, we just don't use the service and would like to cancel it."

Stephen: "Ok. We really hate to lose you as a customer. If you ever need satellite service again, please call."

Me: "Thank you."

More pictures

So....since all two of my readers have been sitting there with bated breath for the rest of the Bluebonnet pictures....Here is the cutest 2-year old in 11 years!!!

Pretty darn cute, huh?

Pictures!

More to come when I can get Blogger to cooperate!

Randomness

We have the best kids, family and friends in the world.

I got a free day from my second two classes today (yay!).

I am not a writer - especially in reference to my History class.

My sweet husband is snoring on the couch.

My precious 2 year old is watching Blue slide down a slide and giggling.

I love 2 year old giggles.

My niece has a broken collar bone and arm (poor baby).

Joshua has an ear infection.

Jake and Cody are just fine.

I wish Emily were here.

I wish Trey were home.

I wish David could find a new job that he would be happy with and get satisfaction from.

I love my husband.

We finished up Romans in Bible study last night and are going to be going through John next.

I'm thinking Roma's pizza sounds really, really good for lunch!

So...

So I wouldn't encourage seeing "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas".

That's all I can really say about that.

Haha

It's 3:15 and I'm still in my pajamas. I did have a shower, just put them back on. It sounds like Josh is waking up. I'll let him talk to himself for a minute while I think about getting dressed.

Hard to swallow.....

I just found out that a friend from my childhood's little sister was just found dead in her room. She just graduated high school year before last. They don't know why yet.

That's hard. Really hard. I can't imagine what her Mom and Dad are dealing with. Just can't imagine it.

I'm certainly praying for them.

Wow!

I went to Monika's and Julie's church last night for a worship conference. I broke down when I looked across the row and saw my precious friend Monika raising her hands in surrendered worship to the One True God, the God of Heaven. It was so beautiful. In that moment, I was so completely humbled. God is so huge, yet he knows the number of hairs on my head. And Monika's head. And her sweet 13 year old girl, Jenna's head. It's amazing. I never, ever thought I would be standing in God's presence with Monika! She was the friend of mine in high school that was more of the "rebel" type. She was the one I partied with. She was the one who I could always count on to get into stuff with.

Did you hear that?

I stood in church with my hard-core, Metallica-loving, bad-boy chasing friend, Monika! And she now loves and worships the same God I do!

God is so great and good. He is good for now and forever-more. And I get to stand in Heaven and worship His Holiness with my redeemed, washed in the blood friend, Monika! Wow!

I am so humbled to be given these privileges.

Sin Stinks!

I journal. I journal some online and I journal alot on paper. I'm not a great writer by any means, but I can write what I'm thinking out to God and it's an awesome tool for me to use when I pray. I will write some thoughts and pray some without writing. The journaling kinda' keeps me on track with staying focused on praying. I love to talk to God and can go on for a long time this way. I don't do it enough, but still love it.

Anyway, while journaling the other day, I was praying and thinking about how I want to be away from sin. I don't want it in my life, but I don't want to be legalistic. I need that balance. About that time, I started smelling something dead. I don't know where it was coming from. (I am hoping it is outside and not in our bedroom wall or something, because that would be really gross.) Anyway, as I smelled it, I started thinking in the direction of "the wages of sin is death..." and how horrible death smells to us. The Holy Spirit showed me that smell is exactly how sin smells to our Father. He just absolutely cannot stay in it's presence. He is Holy. Clean. Alive. He is Life! There is no decay or death around Him and He can't have it around Him, just by His nature. Wow. "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." Wow again. Because of my Savior's death and then His overcoming of that death, I can have that horrible stench and decay removed from my spirit so I can walk right into the Holy God's presence. Hallelujah! That is just so amazing!

On a side note....I had my hair cut and I hate it!

Twilight

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart when my stepson came home from his Mom's house telling me he watched the movie Twilight while visiting her. I had no idea anything about the movie, so I asked him what it was. He went on to tell me how it was a vampire movie, but it was really ok because it was "good" vampires. What? All of a sudden there are "good" vampires? My very first thought was "NO!!!! That is deception! That is wrong! That can't be!" I have to admit I was not calm about it. I was wrong in the way I responded, causing a bit of a rift with my son. I am shocked that Christians are ok with this. I am shocked that there does not seem to be anybody who sees that this is SCARY for our kids!

My husband found this youtube video that sums it up in about 9 minutes. My heart is broken.

See it here.

Word to the Wise

Do not purchase these for your small child. Although they appear to be the proper size for little fine-motor-skill-challenged children, like Josh, they are not good. I now am sporting blue and green fingers and have a really nice spot on our living room floor where he touched the carpet with them while trying very sweetly to color Thomas the Train blue. They work just like markers, but are disguised as twistable crayons.

I do have to give him props for picking the correct color for Thomas.

I can't not share this...

The following message has been sent out by David Wilkerson. He is a man of God who is best known for writing the book "The Cross and the Switchblade". He's written several books and put out several warning messages. The warning messages before have been spot-on each time. I have sat under his teaching, met him personally and have close relations who are close to him. I've researched his history myself and haven't found any time that he has been given a word from the Spirit and not been correct. I don't know who might stumble on this in my blog, and if you are a stranger to me, maybe this will simply be what you remember when these things come to pass and the Lord will use this to reach you. I don't know. I'm past the point in my life and walk with Christ of being shy or embarrassed about things of the Spirit. I'm not a quack or a wacko. Ok, so maybe I'm a little odd, but that's ok. I just love the Lord and don't want to see any perish - just as He doesn't. Check out this message...

read it here: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2009/03/urgent-message.html

URGENT MESSAGE...

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.

AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.

There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).

God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.

The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11-12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment—just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.

WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?

First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.

As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven—his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1).

I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take—trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.

Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.

God bless and keep you,

In Christ,

DAVID WILKERSON

Psalm 127

Psa 127:1
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Wow. This is really striking a chord in me today. I don't even know what to say about it other than that. It really is making sense. If we don't let the Lord build our house, what sense is there in it? Just like where you store your treasures. What good are earthly treasures? I can see how material things are a blessing in the material realm, but in reality, it's the material things that really come between me and God, so am I really blessed? If this life is like a fleeting mist, why would I really care about things to have and own? The moths will destroy it anyway.

Psa 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves.

I'm not done thinking on this one yet.

Psa 127:3
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.

Of course this is beautiful. Especially just coming off of the high from being there for Miss Taylor Grace's entry into this life. Children are a reward. I may have to memorize this one so that I can tell myself that when I'm ticked and they don't seem like much of a reward. haha!

Psa 127:4
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.

Still chewing on that one too.

Psa 127:5
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

What stands out to me in this one is that the Lord is saying "when", not "if" they contend with their enemies.

My Sweet Baby

I don't know what was up with him last night. I'm thinking it must have been his "teet" (teeth). He was really upset quite a bit and only wanted his "Da-eee" (Daddy). He slept until 10 this morning. David and the boys went to church. Joshua and I went to Walmart to get the stuff for tonight's home team. He seemed fine today, but his eyes were sunken and tired. He's sleeping now, so that's good.

A New Baby!

My sweet friend, Dena, had her precious baby, Taylor Grace, today. It was a wonderful experience and an honor to be one of her coaches. She did it all natural, without an epi. She is quite a trooper and feels great now. Taylor loves to nurse and she's already a great snuggler.

I'm so very happy for them.

a lot on my heart

I don't know where to begin.

God is calling us to holiness. True holiness. Not pretend holiness. I don't even know how to express everything. He's calling us to be separate, but still love. The only way to balance that is with Him. He's calling us to cut sin out of our life and mourn - not because we miss the sin, but because of it's existance at all. He is calling us to study the scripture and be ready. For what? Ready for His judgment.

I don't know who actually reads this blog, but He is calling us to get off the fence. Not to talk about it, but to get off. Be holy. Stand for holiness.

I'm not a prophet. I have been led to read some scripture and with direction have seen a pattern of the Lord's judgment. Every nation who turns God out gets judged. We are so slack and so comfy in our christianity, that it really can't be called christianity. We are called to so much more.

The United States has turned God out. The United States is being judged. And God's going to pour out His holy wrath. I don't fear the wrath anymore. I know He is holy and His holy wrath is justified. I trust Him. His wrath has never been poured out on His children, just the unrighteous.

I feel in my spirit the dusk of a day. The day's light is about to be out and the night is going to be upon us. I do not fear because I know that His joy comes with the morning!

Spring Break!

Yay! Emily was here for the week last week, but left yesterday. Mom and Dad are in Missouri. David took the week off, so we're all hanging out. It's absolutely wonderful. Our Anniversary is this Friday and we have babysitters lined up for the night so we can go out. Hopefully we can find something fun to do.

I do have some papers to get written and need to stay up to speed on my A & P, but it's certainly not like it would be during the week.